Skip to main content

PawTracks may earn a commission when you buy through links on our site.

We don’t need another Tiger King: Responsibly source your exotic pet purchase

We’re all drawn to exotic animals, whether it’s in rescue and rehabilitation, in David Attenborough documentaries, or yes, even in Tiger King. While this show has shed light on the plight of these beasts, that doesn’t stop the illegal trade from continuing. In birds alone, thousands are taken from their homes every year. “According to [one] study, between 65,000 and 78,500 parrots are illegally trapped in the wild in Mexico every year, and thousands are smuggled across the border into the United States,” explains writer Charles Bergman on the illegal parrot trade. But that doesn’t mean you can only own a dog or cat: there are ways to properly acquire and keep a pet so that it will thrive and live a wonderful life with you. The most important thing is to do your research on exotic animals before you bring one home.

Parrot flies in front of trees in the wild

What is the illegal animal trade?

Nowhere does the situation become more clear than in animal markets around the world. They’re a major source for exotic pets that travel to many countries, including the U.S. Animals are often treated badly, with estimates that up to 75 percent never even become pets because they don’t make it through the journey, as Bergman explains. This doesn’t just include parrots, but also reptiles, some primates, and even hedgehogs. In some places, there aren’t laws against trafficking, but it’s always inhumane, not to mention unsanitary. These clusters of wild animals held together for sale also breed disease and poor conditions for humans too.

Related Videos

How can I help prevent animal trafficking?

Bergman’s quest for information led him to Maria Elena Sanchez, president of Teyeliz, a Mexican conservation organization, who has been working to enact laws and make broader change. 

“‘We don’t want to chase traffickers anymore,’ Sanchez says. ‘We want to change attitudes.’ That’s something they are working on now — a public-awareness campaign that includes radio talk shows, posters, children’s coloring books, and teaching kits for educators — to alert people not to buy wild or captive-bred parrots.”

We’re a big piece of that. There’s only a market for wildlife trafficking if there are people willing to purchase the animals on the other end. Spreading awareness and supporting organizations who work within communities to help locals find other forms of employment make a big difference, too. 

Clown fish swims in his habitat

Tips for getting an exotic pet

When in doubt, don’t do it. If you’re an inexperienced owner, make sure to get some practice, such as volunteering at a rescue, before bringing an exotic pet home. However, once you’re certain that you can respectfully manage, there are a few things you should do to make sure you aren’t participating in illegal trade and are instead ethically sourcing your animals. 

Find a good breeder

Always research in advance to find trusted breeders. Call your local vet or check websites to locate breeders that are recommended by professionals. Then ask questions. You can absolutely look for photos and videos of breeding facilities and find out more about conditions, both before birth and after.

Set up a proper habitat

Even if your pet has never lived in the wild, it’s still built for a specific environment, and so it’s your job to recreate it. That means carefully monitoring temperature and humidity, as well as keeping up with cleaning. These critters need the exercise that they would normally get from hunting and hiding. Remember, they were really born to fly miles around the trees of a tropical rainforest or spend life burrowing below ground in the desert.

Maintain correct care

In addition to a good home, your animal needs the right food, water, and grooming to stay healthy. Too often, animals are brought into a well-intentioned, yet lacking, environment that cannot support their needs. Even if you decide to adopt a rehomed pet, you need to have the resources to keep up with it. Lastly, some of these creatures — macaws and tortoises in particular — live for decades. It’s essential to have a plan in place for the very real possibility that they may outlive you. 

There’s a lot you can do to ensure that you don’t wind up contributing to harm towards animals or their ecosystems. While some pet stores will lie about where an individual animal came from, doing your own research goes a long way. For some species, like tropical fish, you won’t have to look hard to discover captive-bred swimmers who were raised safely. For others, look into adoption or rescue organizations to save an animal that might otherwise be put down. After your investigation, you might decide to stick with watching nature documentaries instead, with your pet cat on your lap, of course.

Editors' Recommendations

Best reptile pets: These are the 5 most affectionate reptiles you can welcome into your home
Looking for a reptile pet? These friendly kinds are worth a good look
Basking Chinese water dragon

Reptiles aren't often known for their cuddly nature, but there are certain types of reptiles that enjoy being handled. Whether you're looking for a new buddy for yourself or for your lizard-obsessed kid, there's a reptile pet out there. With proper socialization, these reptiles can learn to be handled daily, and some are even good choices for families with children. If you're looking for a new pet that enjoys human company, consider one of these most affectionate reptiles -- they're the best reptilian pets for handling.

Best reptile pets
Bearded dragon
Typically known for being friendly and even enjoying being handled, bearded dragons can become close companions with their humans. As they get to know you, they'll often learn to climb on your body and even ride around on your shoulders.

Read more
Everything you want to know about the reptile life cycle, from egg to adulthood
These are the four stages of the reptile life cycle
Chameleon reptile

You've been familiar with dog years, and you've heard that cats have nine lives. But what do you know about reptiles?

The class Reptilia is a diverse group of animals that range from the tiniest lizards to the largest turtles. They're the distant evolutionary cousin of birds defined by a few unique characteristics, including the internal fertilization of their young and scales covering at least part of their bodies (via Britannica). Apart from these essential traits, reptiles are incredibly variable and can only be classified into a few large groups.

Read more
Can you keep seahorses as pets in your home aquarium?
How to keep seahorses as aquarium pets
Yellow seahorse in water

Good news, aquarium hobbyists: Yes, you can keep seahorses as pets. Seahorses are very entertaining fish to watch. They are one of only two fish that swim upright. Male seahorses hold seahorse eggs until they hatch. Seahorses are quite interesting creatures, and if you’re interested in having a pet seahorse, read ahead to learn about what that entails.

The best habitat for your pet seahorse
First and foremost, remember that seahorses can only live in saltwater, meaning you must maintain a saltwater aquarium.

Read more